Gathering and Storage

original: "収貯" (shū zhù). Gathering and storing the harvest.

Below the title are two red square seals, likely identifying the artist or the collection.

Reaping the Grain

This intricate scene is a quintessential example of the Pictures of Tilling and Weavingthe Gengzhi Tu, a genre of didactic art used by Chinese emperors to emphasize the importance of agriculture and sericulture. Having nurtured the rice through the seasons of planting and weeding, the focus now shifts to the frantic and rewarding labor of the harvest.

In the upper left of the composition, groups of farmers are bent low over the golden stalks, using hand sickles to cut the rice at the base. Their rhythmic labor is the foundation of the empire's food security.

The logistics of the harvest are illustrated with great detail:

• Manual Transport: In the lower left, laborers utilize shoulder poles to carry heavy, balanced bundles of harvested grain. This method was essential for navigating the narrow paths between paddies where carts could not reach.
• The Buffalo Cart: On the right side of the spread, the scale of the operation increases. A large wooden cart, laden with the bounty of the fields, is being prepared for transport.
• Draft Animals: The scene highlights the vital role of the water buffalothe primary draft animal in southern Chinese rice cultivation, prized for its strength in muddy terrain, shown here pulling the heavy cart across the landscape.

The backdrop of soft hills and a small wooden bridge crossing a quiet stream serves as a reminder of the natural environment that sustains these agricultural efforts. The scene captures the transition from "Reaping" (cutting the grain) to the broader category of "Gathering and Storage," where the fruits of a year's labor are finally secured.